Check-in and access this session from the IGF Schedule.

Dynamic Coalitions – Joint Efforts to achieve the SDGs

Dynamic Coalitions are part of the IGF ecosystem working through-out the year in the respective area they have dedicated their efforts to ranging from the Internet of Things to blockchain technologies, from gender issues to accessibility, from local content and sustainable journalism to Internet rights and principles, from platform responsibility to child protection, from access in libraries to community connectivity and a great many other issues. In this session the Dynamic Coalitions will demonstrate 

-            in which way their work is related to a certain SDG

-            what they have already achieved in regard of that SDG

-            what their plans are towards 2025 and that specific SDG

-            what policy questions arise from their work in regard of the SDGs

Moderator: Tatiana Tropina, Michael Oghia

Chair: Jutta Croll

Policy Questions (draft)

  1. How can we ensure that the Internet and IoT devices are deployed in safe ways, also by those that cannot be expected to have the knowledge and/or resources to ensure (complex) security measures?
  2. How can we ensure that the Internet and IoT devices are deployed in safe ways, also by those that cannot be expected to have the knowledge and/or resources to ensure (complex) security measures?
  3. As intelligent technologies develop at exponential pace, has enough been done to ensure that legislation, regulatory frameworks and implementation processes are transparent, accountable, inclusive and proportionate in order to avoid infringements on the enjoyment of human rights?

Speakers (in alphabetical order):

  • Gunela Astbrink
  • Marten Botterman
  • Jane Coffin
  • Bishakha Datta
  • Stuart Hamilton, EIFL
  • Marie-Laure Lemineur
  • Christopher Marsden
  • Mira Milosevic
  • Minda Moreira
  • Carla L. Reyes
  • Nikolis Smith
  • Christopher Yoo
  • Nicolo Zingales
1. Key Policy Questions and Expectations
  1. How can policies promoting internet connectivity and use be designed in a more participatory, bottom-up manner, and be more responsive to local needs and input?
  2. How can we ensure that the Internet and IoT devices are deployed in safe ways, also by those that cannot be expected to have the knowledge and/or resources to ensure (complex) security measures?
  3. As intelligent technologies develop at exponential pace, has enough been done to ensure that legislation, regulatory frameworks and implementation processes are transparent, accountable, inclusive and proportionate in order to avoid infringements on the enjoyment of human rights?
2. Summary of Issues Discussed

Deliberations first centered around SDG 10 „reduced inequality“ addressing questions of access and connectivity. Panelists discussed how much connecting the unconnected depends on funding, what the drivers and barriers to adoption are and which role legal frameworks play. Regards people with disabilities awareness was mentioned as a pre-condition for accessibility, the youth coalition pleaded for inclusiveness of decision making giving young people a voice in IG. 

Marginalized groups were discussed leading to questions of gender referring to SDG 5 „Gender equality“. Addressing SDG 3 “Good Health and Wellbeing” sexuality was mentioned as an issue often avoided or suppressed, although the internet provides huge potential for information and peer-group counselling. DC Child Online Safety also referred to SDG 3 addressing children’s right to play on the one hand and potential harms related to playing online games, like communication with other gamers unknown to the child or excessive usage triggered by games designed to satisfy the child’s desires.

The potential of IoT for achieving SDGs 2 “Zero Hunger”, 3 “Good Health and Wellbeing”, 6 “Clean Water and Sanitation”, 7 “Affordable and Clean Energy”, 11 “Sustainable Cities and Communities”, and 13” Climate Action” was described with strong agreement that IoT must be deployed in a safe manner with special attention to vulnerable groups.

SDG 9 “Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure” was addressed by the DC on DNS issues and by DC Blockchain focusing on Universal Acceptance and the readiness of enterprises to unearth the potential of UA within existing legal and social structures.

Eventually the session focussed on human rights with the DCs on Internet Rights and Principles, DC Sustainability of Journalism, DC Platform Responsibility, DC on Network Neutrality referring to SDGs 16 “Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions” and 17 “Partnerships for the Goals” drawing conclusions to be found in sec. 3.

3. Policy Recommendations or Suggestions for the Way Forward

Access cannot be discussed without addressing sustainability.

Regulation is not longer deemed as a last resort but as a necessity to address the issues discussed in the session.

Human rights should be the guiding principle for any decison taken in regard of Internet Governance.

4. Other Initiatives Addressing the Session Issues

All Dynamic Coalitions addressing the SDGs.

5. Making Progress for Tackled Issues

DCs work is assumed to be the "cohesive glue" of Internet Governance.

6. Estimated Participation

onsite: 50 women / 50 men

online: not known yet

7. Reflection to Gender Issues

Gender issues were reflected well based on the input from DC gender and Access and addressed as a cross-cutting issue by the other DCs as well.